Closure device for collapsible tubes



July 10, 1956 E SCHULTE 2,754,027

CLOSURE DEVICE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed Dec. 24, 1953 IN1/Ewan EMIL SCHULTE BWM United States Patent O CLOSURE DEVICE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Emil Schulte, Troisdorf, Germany Application December 24, 1953, Serial No. 400,274

2 Claims. (Cl. 22030.5)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in closure devices for the neck openings of collapsible tubes and other containers.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of an inexpensive cap slidably and pivotally connected with the neck of a collapsible tube or other container, such as for example a toothpaste tube, which cap can be locked on by a partial turn and can be moved to one side of the discharge opening in the neck without separating the cap from the tube or other container.

Another object of the present invention proposes forming the cap of plastic with curved trunnion bearing arms which will hold the trunnions slidable in guiding grooves when the cap is over the discharge opening in the neck of a tube or other container and which will spread apart to permit the trunnions to pivot in the grooves for the cap to be snapped to one side of the discharge opening.

Still further, the present invention proposes constructing the closure device with a sleeve or concentric sleeves containing the guiding grooves and which can easily be secured around the neck of any collapsible tube or other container.

As a further object, the present invention proposes arranging the guiding grooves in the form of spiral inclined camming grooves so that the cap can be raised and lowered over the discharge opening in the neck of a tube or other container merely by twisting in one direction or another.

The present invention further proposes arranging the trunnion guiding grooves each in substantially right angle form with one leg disposed crosswise of the neck of a tube or other container and the other leg disposed lengthwise of the neck so that the cap can be pulled or pushed from or to the discharge opening in the tube or other container when the trunnions are in the lengthwise legs of the grooves and locked in place over the discharge opening by turning the cap when the trunnions are aligned with the crosswise legs of the grooves.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the closure device of the present invention on a collapsible tube, the body of the tube being broken away and the cap shown in an intermediate position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the cap in its open position.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the structure shown in Figs. l and 2, but showing the cap in its closed and locked position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but smaller and partly broken away and in section.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

2,754,027 Patented July 1o, 195e Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. .4 but illustrating a modiiication of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but with the cap removed.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a side view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating another modification of the present invention.

The closure device, in the irst form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5,inclusive, has a cap 15 and two concentric sleeves 16 and 17 which sleeves are frictionally secured together as by a tight lit and the inner sleeve 16 is similarly secured to the neck 18 of a collapsible tube 19. The collapsible tube 19 may be a toothpaste tube or the like and may be any type of necked container instead of a tube. Since the closure device must be inexpensive in order to make it commercially feasible, preferably the cap 15 and sleeves 16 and 17 are molded of thermoplastic..

The cylindrical neck 18 of the tube 19 has a discharge opening 20 running from the base of the neck to its free end.

Cap 15 has a pair of spaced opposed arms 21 and 22 extending from it. In addition, the cap 15 has the usual knurled disc flange 23 for turning it and a cylindrical inner chamber 24 with a resilient disc seal 25 secured therein for fitting over the discharge opening 20 to seal the tube.

A pair of inwardly directed trunnions 26 and 27 are formed on the free ends of the arms 21 and 22, respectively. Arms 21 and 22 are laterally curved to conform to the curvature of the cylindrical neck 18 and sleeves 16 and 17. The trunnions 26 and 27 are centrally disposed on the ends of the arms 21 and 22.

Outer sleeve 17 is provided with a pair of trunnion guiding grooves 28 and 29 slidably and pivotally to receive the trunnions 26 and 27. The grooves 28 and 29 extend all the way through the outer sleeve 17 and are spirally inclined. Each groove has a susbtantially level portion 30 adjacent the base of the neck of the tube t0 lock the trunnions therein and hold the cap 15 over the discharge opening 20 of the tube 19.

The operation of the closure device is simple. The sleeves 16 and 17 are secured to the neck 18 of the tube 19 and the trunnions 26 and 27 are seated in the guiding grooves 28 and 29. To open the tube 19, the cap 15 is turned in one direction. The grooves 28 and 29 guide the trunnions 26 and 27 so that the twisting of the cap results in the cap being raised above the discharge opening 20 of the tube 19. When the trunnions reach the upper ends of the grooves, the cap can be twisted no farther in that direction. Then the cap is tilted to one side (either side) of the tube, the trunnions pivoting in the grooves and the arms 21 and 22 flexing outwardly enough to permit this. Because of their lateral curvature, the arms 21 and 22 must be forced outwardly by the outer sleeve 17. This results in a snapping of the cap to one side of the discharge opening 20 of the tube where it is held by the resiliency of the plastic arms. The trunnions remain in the grooves.

To close the tube, the cap is snapped back over the discharge opening 20 and twisted in the opposite direction. The grooves 28 and 29 guide the trunnions to their lower substantially level portions 30 where the trunnions are locked when the cap can be twisted no more in that direction. The length of the trunnion bearing arms 21 and 22 is such that the seal in the cap is tightly held over the discharge opening 20 of the tube when the trunnions are in the lower portions 30 of the grooves.

It is apparent that the grooves 28 and 29 or similar trunnion guiding devices could be provided directly on the neck of the tube in the manufacture of the tube.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 to "9, inclusive, is similar to that shown inFigs. 1 to 5 and like parts are given like reference characters but primed -to distinguish the fiigures. This modication is characterized, however, by the p-rovision ofa single annularfsleeve 32v=inmlace of the -twoconcentric 'sleeves 16 andi? of Figs. 1--to,5, inclusive. rIn addition, 'the sleeve 32 is secured to the neck 18' of tube 19' by expanding the material of the sleevejan'd neck byfdepressi'ons 33.

The modification fof the invention illustrated in Fig. is characterizedbyfthe provisionof a'tube 34 having a neck 35 around which is secured asleeve 36 having a pair of spaced, identically formed grooves 37, only one of which is shown.. A` plastic cap -38 haswa ypair of spaced, identically formedarrns 39 (only-one being shown) which have trunnions 40"(only one shown) 'which slidably and `pivotaily seat in -thegrooves 37. The grooves 37 each have-a lower leg 41 running substantially crosswise of the neck-35 and -an upper leg 42 running .lengthwise of neck 35. Iln ythis -mann'er the `tr'unnions can be locked in the legs 41 by turning'and when vturned to alignment with'thc legs 42 the cap can be lifted up and swung to one side.

lt isappare'nt that the trunnions and grooves can be constructed so that `the trunnions are pivotable in the grooves only when the cap is in position for tilting to one side.

While lrhave illustrated and described the preferred embodiments *of my invention, it is'to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosedand the rightis reserved to all changes and modiiications coming Within the scope of the invention as delfined inthe appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, Vand desire to secure by United States Letters Patent-is:

1. In acontainer andclosure, a neck having a discharge opening and a smooth outer surface, a cap'having Ya pair vof spacedV arms with a 'pair lof inwardly directed trunnions at the free ends thereof, and means on the outside of the neckslidablyiandpivotally `to receive thetrunnions, said `means beingadapted to hold the trunnions in one position to lockthe cap over the discharge opening and in another position .to permit the 'cap to be tilted to one Vside of the discharge'opening, said means beinga pairof concentric sleeves slid over said neck, with a pair of spirally inclined grooves "in the 'outer sleeve, said sleeves being adapted to lit closely aboutfsaid neck, said cap and sleeves being of plastic, and a resilient seal centrally disposed in the cap for sealing the discharge opening when the cap is locked thereover, said neck and sleeves being round in cross section and said arms being curved to conform to said neck and sleeves when the cap is over the discharge opening.

2. A closure for a containerhaving a tapered shoulder and a smooth cylindrical neck'vvith an axial opening therein, comprising zin-adapter 'consistingof a pair 4of'concentric smoothwalled sleeve members frictionally held together, the inner'sleeve member having an annular flange on one end thereof for seating the adapter on the shoulder oi the container, said ange serving as a seat for the lower end of the outer sleeve member, the outer sleeve member 'havingfopposed curved grooves therein, 'said' grooves each having a lower leg portion running substantially crosswise of the sleeve and an upper leg portion running substantially lengthwise of said sleeve member, and a cap slidably and swivelly carried by said adapter, said cap 4includinga disc-shaped head with depending opposed arms curved -transversely to conform to the curvature of the outer sleevesmember, and trunnions on the free lower end :of thei-armsreceived in said slots whereby the cap may be slid lengthwise Yand around the adapter for tightening the head of ythe-cap over the axial opening in the neck of the container'an'd for loosening Vthe same to permit the cap -tobe swung' away from said opening.

References Cited in the Atile of this patent UNITED vS'''ES PATENTS 1,513,464 lBourguignon Jan. 5, 1,875 389,707 iKottgen Sept. 18, 1888 l1,441,705 Nickerson Ian. 9, 1923 1,605,058 Nickerson Nov. r2, 1926 2,145,560 Staley lan. 31, 1939 2,351,150 Sanford June 13, 1944 2,639,056 'Grabner May 19, 1953 ,FOREIGN PATENTS 2215,249 'Switzerland Oct. 11, 1947 

